Airports
Western Sydney Airport opens Oct. 25: first flights, airlines and the lounge question
Sydney's second airport opens in 10 days with a Jetstar flight to the Gold Coast. Air New Zealand says its lounge plans are still to come.
By Patrick Karsh, Founder, Lounge Frog ·
Page updated October 2026.
Sydney gets its second airport in ten days. Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, known by its code WSI, opens to passengers on Sunday, October 25, 2026. The date was set by the federal government in June, in a joint announcement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his ministers. It ends 15 years of planning and seven years of building.
The first flights
Here is the opening lineup, based on the government's announcement and the airlines' own pages:
- Jetstar runs the first passenger flight, an Airbus A320 to the Gold Coast at 11 a.m. on October 25. It plans up to 14 weekly flights to Melbourne, four to the Gold Coast and three to Brisbane.
- Air New Zealand starts flights to Auckland on October 26. Its Western Sydney page lists three return flights a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, using A320 and A321 jets.
- Singapore Airlines starts a daily flight to Singapore on November 23, according to its press release. It will use an A350-900 with 40 business class seats and 263 economy seats.
- Qantas starts on March 28, 2027, with four weekly flights each to Melbourne and Brisbane on QantasLink Embraer E190s.
The airport has no curfew. It is built for up to 10 million passengers a year to start, with room to grow.
The lounge question
For lounge fans, this is the big unknown. Air New Zealand's WSI page says lounge access, including any option to buy a pass, is "details to be confirmed." It says more information will come closer to launch. Air New Zealand will also sell only economy on these flights. Premium economy and business stay at Sydney's main airport.
Singapore Airlines' release does not mention a lounge at WSI either. Its late-night departure, at 11:55 p.m., is the kind of flight where a lounge matters most. Business class travelers will want to know where they can wait before they book.
Until the airlines confirm their plans, do not assume you will have a lounge at WSI, even with status. If lounge access is a must, Sydney Kingsford Smith still has the full range. See our Sydney airport page for what is open there.
Getting there
WSI sits in Badgerys Creek, in Sydney's west. The Sydney Metro rail link to the airport is planned but not yet open, so plan on a car, bus or rideshare for now. Check the airport's own website for transport options before you fly.
Who it suits
If you live in Western Sydney, WSI could save a long drive across the city. The Singapore flight also opens up one-stop trips to Asia and Europe from the west. If you care most about lounges and premium cabins, Kingsford Smith will still be the better choice for a while.
You can see each airline's fleet on our pages for Jetstar, Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines.
My take
A new airport is exciting, and a nightly Singapore Airlines A350 from day one is a strong start. But the lounge plans matter to many of our readers. I would wait for Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines to confirm them before switching a premium trip from Kingsford Smith.
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